Life satisfaction among rural Chinese grandparents: the roles of intergenerational family relationship and support exchange with grandchildren

Abstract

Xu L, Chi I. Life satisfaction among rural Chinese grandparents: the roles of intergenerational family relationship and support exchange with grandchildrenInt J Soc Welfare 2011: 20: S148–S159 © 2011 The Author(s), International Journal of Social Welfare © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare.In this study, we examined how the life satisfaction of rural Chinese grandparents is affected by their intergenerational family relationship and support exchange with grandchildren. The study sample consisted of 9,704 grandparents aged 60 and older from the 2000 “Sample Survey on Aged Population in Urban/Rural China.” Demographic variables, including health variables, support exchange with children, intergenerational family relationship, and support exchange with grandchildren, were entered hierarchically into four regression models to examine the effects of these variables on grandparents' life satisfaction. Results showed that rural grandparents who perceive their children as filial or their family as harmonious, or who receive instrumental support as well as less monetary support from their grandchildren, are more likely to have higher levels of life satisfaction. In addition, rural grandparents who are older, experience lower levels of financial strain, have better health, provide instrumental support to children, and receive greater monetary support from their children, are more likely to report higher levels of life satisfaction.